Villa Yara

The Soulful Lebanese Restaurants That Bring Together DC's Immigrant Community | Condé Nast Traveler

"Eating at this gorgeous Georgetown townhouse—complete with a flower-filled courtyard circling a fountain like the ones Lebanese families gather around for hours-long meals—delivers the nostalgia hit it promises, thanks to executive chef Layla Iskandar’s nafas (spirit) that makes her sophisticated homespun fare feel deeply personal. Biting into Iskandar’s kibbeh nearly moved me to tears; I could swear my sita’s hands had mixed the spiced ground beef and bulgur and added extra pine nuts to the filling. With warm pita to scoop up velvety kibbeh nayyeh and playful mix-and-match bites (the zesty muhammara with makanek lamb sausage was a winner), I felt transported to Lebanon for an hour or two." - Layla Khoury-Hanold